Trump Hints at Skipping Republican Presidential Primary Debates Due to ‘Hostile’ Networks

Originally published April 25, 2023 8:00 pm PDT

Former President Donald Trump hinted at potentially skipping the Republican presidential primary debates in a TRUTH Social post on Tuesday.

Trump criticized the “hostile Networks” and “angry, TRUMP & MAGA hating anchors” involved in the debate arrangements, claiming that neither he nor his campaign had given approval for the events.

“I see that everybody is talking about the Republican Debates, but nobody got my approval, or the approval of the Trump Campaign, before announcing them,” he wrote. “When you’re leading by seemingly insurmountable numbers, and you have hostile Networks with angry, TRUMP & MAGA hating anchors asking the ‘questions,’ why subject yourself to being libeled and abused?”

The Republican National Committee (RNC) previously announced that the first primary debate would take place in August in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with Fox News, Young America’s Foundation, and Rumble jointly sponsoring the event.

RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel also revealed that the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library would host the second debate, although the date has not been specified.

Trump expressed disapproval over the Reagan Library’s involvement, pointing out that its chairman, Fred Ryan, is also the publisher of The Washington Post.

The Reagan Library has previously hosted Republican debates in 2008, 2011, and 2015.

Currently, Trump is the clear favorite among GOP primary polling, leading by 29 points in the RealClearPolitics average.

Other candidates who have declared their bids include former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, talk radio host Larry Elder, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson.

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott has formed an exploratory committee, while former Vice President Mike Pence and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are considering entering the race.

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